Vibrating tooth brush



$111823, 3 w. F. STICHT VIBRATING TOOTH BRUSH Filed April 22, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY INVENTOR 10ml? Stiaht w. F. sTlcHT VIBRATINQTOOTH BRUSH June 23, 1936.

Filed April 22, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR [Win/.1? Stifiht T ATTCRNEY Tm .\\M

Patented June 23, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 10 Claims.

This invention has reference to what are known as vibrating tooth brushes, in which means are provided for effecting rapid impacts on the portion of the tooth brush that directly engages the teeth or gums of the user, that will have a meassage effect on the gums. I

One object of the invention is to provide an improved device of this character in which the impacts will be imparted to the brush member directly, and not to the end portion of the device, that is likely to come into contact with the teeth.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved mounting of the brush member to cause its vibratory action.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means for imparting the reciprocations of a core of magnetizable material a solenoid magnet to the impact member of the device.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for preventing moisture or water from the brush member from entering into the solenoid and core, which might cause a short circuit.

Another object is to provide an improved form of bristle member arranged to pass into the gum portions between the teeth.

In the accompanying drawings are shown embodiments of my invention:

Figure 1 is a bottom elevation.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectio tion.

Fig. 3 is a section enlarged on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 shows a detail of the locking joint to the brush member.

Fig. 5 is a cross section enlarged on the line 55 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a cross section enlarged on the line G6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section enlarged of one end portion.

Fig. 8 shows some of the parts of Fig. 7 in another position.

Fig. 9 shows the rubber washer. I

Fig. 1c is a longitudinal section enlarged at the rear end. 1

Fig. 11 is a cross section on the line II--Ii of Fig. 10. '2

Fig. 12 shows the brush member detached.

Fig. 13 shows another form of tooth engaging member.

As shown in the drawings the device comprises a handle portion, in the form of a casing 2, and a partly in elevabrush member, or brush holding member in the form of a tubular shank or sleeve 3. The handle casing 2 has a solenoid or magnet 4 mounted therein, and arranged to slide a short distance, being pressed outwardly at'its inner end by a coil spring 5, that engages a shoulder 6 of the casing 2, and also the inner end of the solenoid, 5 while the outer end of the solenoid is thus pressed against a head I of electric insulating material ,that is screwthreaded to engage the internal threads of the casing to have adjustment into and out of the casing and adjust the position of the solenoid in the casing, see Fig. 10. The head I has a bore 8 to receive wires 9 and I 0, that connect with insulated screws II and I2, from which terminals I3 and I4 lead to the extremities of the solenoid winding.

In the bore I5 of the solenoid slides a plunger bar of magnetic material IE, that is rigidly connected with a stem I! of non-conducting material having a reduced extension I8. This extension will abut a brush stem I9 carried by the 20 sleeve 3, and the reciprocation of the bar I6 will cause impacts of the extension I8 upon the stem I9. The sleeve or shank 3 is arranged with a hood 20 at the end opening through one side to receive the bristle member, or other member'for 25 engaging the teethor gums. In the tubular portion of the shank near this opening is secured a plate spring 2| by its bent end 22, which spring at its other end is bent around the transversely connecting part 23 of the legs 24 of a yoke or U-shaped link member.

. Each of the link legs 24 is connected pivotally at the end to the side walls of the hood, as at 25. The connecting portion of the link legs 24 is bent laterally, as at 26, see Fig." 3. The outer end of 35 the plate spring 2| is bent to form a loop 21 through which projects the transverse leg connecting part 23. This transverse part 23 on each side of the spring loop pivotally carries short links 28 and 29, the lower ends of which carry a pivot pin 30. The stem I9 of the brush member at its outer end has a cross bore to receive the pivot 30, and between this pivot connection of the stem and each link is a roller, 3| and 32. These rollers normally lie at the bottom of an 45 inclined end wall 33 of the hood. It will be seen that longitudinal movement of the stem I9 im parted therto by the extension of the magnet core I6 will advance the short links, and they will exert an upward force on the link 23, 24 which will flex the outer end of the plate spring 2| outwardly toward the hood opening and, at the same time these rollers will ride up the inclined wall 33 and thereby move the outer end of the link 23, 24 laterally toward the hood opening. When the thrust on the stem I 9 is removed the spring 2| will return the parts to normal position.

The plate spring 2|, and also the long links serve to carry the brush member, comprising a back 34 and bristles 35. The back is provided on each side with a groove 36 by which it can slide in onthe long links 24, being cut away at 3I, which portion 31 passes beyond the downward bend of these links. This swinging movement of the long links and plate spring will be imparted to the brush member from the impacts of the solenoid core.

The plunger bar 5 will be caused to reciprocate by the fluctuation oi the current in the magnet, and between this plunger bar and the stem I1 is an annular recess, thus forming opposite stop walls 38 and 39. In this groove is placed a washer 40, the stop walls being further apart than the thickness of the washer to permit it to slide to alternately engage these walls. The stem I1 is provided with lugs 4| (see Fig. 8) on several places, that engage one end of a coil spring 42,

whose other end presses against the washer 40 to normally hold the washer in engagement with the stop wall 38. When the plunger bar I6 is drawn inwardly it will press the washer 40 against the end wall 43 of the magnet, see Fig. 8. An annular stop ring or wall 44 is arranged in the casing 2, opposite the outer portion of the washer 40 to permit slight movement of the washer away from the magnet wall 43, but it will be seen that the movement of the washer between the walls 43 and 44 is somewhat less than the movement of the washer between the dore wall 38 and the opposite wall 39.

- It will be further seen that the shank 3 of the brush member is detachably mounted in the casing 2. The latter casing is preferably of a molded material, such as bakelite, with a reduced portion 45 to receive a sleeve 45 threaded thereon. This sleeve has a reduced extension 41, with a shoulder at 49, that receives a disc 12, surrounding the 'stem extension l8 on its inner portion. This disc serves to combine and compress a series of washers 5B of resilient material, such as rubber, see Fig. 9. Four of these are shown, having their outer portions pressed against a shoulder 43 or the casing 2. Each of these washers comprises an outer ring portion 5|, an inner ringportion 52, which portions are connected integral by a web portion 53, the latter being curved or flexed in, to readily permit the movement of the inner portion of the washers, on the stem, or with the stem.

It will be seen that the enlarged inner end 54 of the shank 3 will slide into the extension 41 of the sleeve 46, and this portion 54 is preferably split and has a bayonet slot 55, that engages a pin 56 on the sleeve. 46 to lock the brush member, and permit its removal. The stem I9 in this shank passes through a ring 51 of soft material such as cork. This is carried by an eyelet member 53 which engages the bore of the cork ring g and is flared on the opposite face of the cork ring against a washer 59, see Fig. 7. The inner end 54 of the shank is pressed inwardly in several places at 50 to hold the cork in place. The outer end of the sleeve portion 41 is screw-threaded to receive an internally threaded ring 52, having an internal bevelled extremity 63 of the sleeve portion 47. This ring will be screwedup after the shank end 54 has been inserted'into the sleeve extension 47 and connected thereto by the bayonet joint to make a tight fit. It will be further seen that the extremity of the split tubular portion 54 is flared inwardly to engage the bevelled portion of a disk 12 held between the sleeve 41 and the end of the casing 2. When this split sleeve is compressed by the ring 62 these bevelled portions will tightly engage and hold the "sleeve in position. It will be further understood 5 that the stem Il secured to the plunger i6 is formed of suitable insulating material, such as bakelite, that will prevent any possible leak of the current from the solenoid and adjacent parts that might pass into the stem I9. 0

In Fig. 13 I show another form of brush member, which is formed of soft rubber, comprising a back plate 54 with a series of plates 55 extending laterally from and transversely of the back, and spaced a short distance apart. These latter 15 plates as shown are of arcuate form with the marginal portions serrated, as at 65, and the side walls 61 may be provided with radial corrugations.

In Fig. 12 the bristle tufts 35 are shown 0 specially arranged, in transverse rows 0! three each, the middle tuft 11 standing upright with the end bevelled ofi toward each side. The tufts of each outer row are set in sockets 68 and 59 that are inclined so that these tufts l0 and H 5 lean toward the middle tuft, and their end portions are bevelled or inclined toward the middle tuft as shown.

The plunger bar I6 is drawn inwardly by the magnetic forces generated by the solenoid, and also by the fixed core I3 of the solenoid, and this may act as a stop to limit the inward movement of the plunger as indicated in Fig. 8. It will be seen that the parts lie normally as indicated in Fig. 2 with the coil spring 42 pressing the washer 40 against the stop wall 38 of the plunger it, but this washer 40 now engages the outer stop 44, and the plunger is spaced from the core 13. When the solenoid is energized, the plunger It will be drawn inwardly, and the washer 40 will be brought 40 against the end wall 43 of the solenoid, see Fig. 8. on change of the current or reversal, the plunger it being released, the coil spring 42 that was tensioned on the inward movement of the plunger and stem is, will now be free to move the stem 45 I! outwardly, and as soon as the wall 38 of the plunger strikes the washer 4B, the tension of the spring will be relieved and it would not by itself carry the plunger and stem further outward, but travel or momentum of these parts will advance the stem W and rod i9 further outward, causing the washer 45 to travel from the position of Fig. 2 until it strikes the ring 44 that will limit this movement, see Fig. 7.

It will be understood that these outward movements of the rod l9 from the position of Fig. 2 to that of Fig. '7, will swing the brush carrier and the brush, and that impact results from the end of the stem l8 engaging the end of the rod 89-.

The plate spring 2!, will swing at its outer end by the link connection and carry the brushwith it, and this tension of the spring when relieved will move the stem rod l9 and the iinksback to their normal position of Fig. 2. This spring is given a kind of loop or bend 75 that will-assist in retaining the brush block 59 in engagement withthe long links, but permit its ready removal.

What I claim is:

1. In a vibrating toothbrush, a chambered han dle, a tubular shank connected at one end to and extending from one end of the handle and arranged with a hood at the opposite end with the opening of the hood at the side of the shank and the outer wall of the hood inclining toward the v hood opening, a magnetic vibrator longitudinally reciprocatory in the handle chamber, a stem mounted in the shank to have longitudinal movement, with the inner end abutting the vibrator and adapted to be moved longitudinally outward by the vibrator, a bearing carried at the outer end of the stem engaging the inclining end wall of the hood, a pair of links each connected at one end to the outer end of the stem, a U-shaped link connected to the opposite end of each of said links and each leg of said U-shaped link extending rearwardly and pivotally connected at its end to a wall of the hood, a plate spring connected at one end to the U-shaped link at the pivot con nection thereof with the pair of links and secured at the opposite end to the shank at the rear of the hood and urging the stem longitudinally in a direction toward the vibrator, and a brush detachably held between the legs of the U-shaped link to extend outwardly from the hood opening, the parts being arranged whereby movement transmitted to the stem by the vibrator will cause the end of the stem to ride up the inclining wall of the hood and move the brush in a direction outward from the hood opening and place the spring under flexure, and said spring plate imparting retracting movement to the brush and stem.

2. In a vibratingtoothbrush, a brush, a chambered handle, a tubular shank connected at one end to and extending from an end of the handle and arranged with a hood at the outer end with the opening of the hood at the side of the shank and the outer end wall of the hood inclining toward the hood opening, a magnetic vibrator longitudinally reciprocatory in the handle chamber including a stem extending into the shank, a second stem longitudinally slidable in the shank with the inner end abutting the vibrator stem and adapted to be moved longitudinally in one direction by the vibrator and the outer end of said second stem having a bearing on the' inclining wall of the hood, and resilient'nieans to support the brush in the hood opening said resilient means connected with the second stem to transmit return movement to and maintain the inner end of the second stem in tion to the vibrator stem.

3. A vibratory brush as. claimed-in claim 2, wherein the resilient brush supporting means comprises a spring plate having a link connection atone end withthe end of the second stem bearing on the inclirringwall of the hood and secured at the opposite end to the shank rearward of the hood opening, and means juxtaposed to the side walls of the hood pivotally connected to the link connection of the spring plate with the second stem and to the side walls of the hood rearward of the hood opening and adapted to engage groovesin the respective sides of the brush.

4. In a vibratory tooth brush, a tubular casing with a closure secured to one end and having a. bore therethrough, a solenoid in the casing arranged with means for the connection of electric conductors extended through the closure bore, a plunger of magnetizable material slidable in the solenoid, a stem of non-conducting maabntting relaterial' connected to the plunger to participate in the movements thereof and adapted'for connection of a Work member, means to yieldingly urge the stem With the plunger in one direction and the plunger and stem adapted to be moved inthe opposite direction against the force of said yielding means under the influence of the magnetic force generated by the solenoid, means for limiti the movement of the plunger and stem,

and means through which the stem is extended, said means being releasibly secured in a recess 'in the end of the casing opposite the closure and engaging the recess wall to permit of recipro-- catory sliding movement of the stem with the plunger and provide a liquid tight seal between the stem and the casing.

5. A vibrating tooth brush as claimed in claim 4, wherein the means to provide a liquid tight seal between the stem and the casing comprises a series of juxtaposed rubber washers seated against a shoulder in. the end of the casing with the peripheral wall and the washers engaging the casing wall and the washers engaged on a reduced portion of the stem with the wall of the washer openings engaging said reduced portion of the stem, a sleeve threaded onto the end of the casing, and a disk interposed between said sleeve and casing compressing the peripheral por-' tionof the rubber washers between said sleeve and the casing shoulder.

6. In a vibratory tooth brush, a tubular handle with a closure adjustably secured in one end to said stem, a spring to urge the stem and bar outward from the solenoid, and said bar and stem adapted to be moved against the force of said spring under the influence of the magnetic forces generated by the solenoid, means to provide a liquid tight seal between the stem and the handle, and means to limit the movement of the stem and bar outward from the solenoid.

7. A vibrating tooth brush as claimed in claim 6, wherein the bar has a reduced portion extended into and whereby it is connected with the stem, with the end of the stem in spaced relation to the shoulder formed by the reduced portion of the bar, and the means to limit the outward movement of the stem and bar comprises a washer having a peripheral portion offset axially and engaging the end of the solenoid with the portion at the opening spaced from the solenoid, and a second washer engaging the shoulder formed by the reduced portion of the bar with the peripheral portion engaging in the space between the solenoid and the first washer.

8. In a vibratory tooth brush, a tubular handle having a removable closure at one end, magnetic vibrating means in the handle, said vibrating means including a solenoid adapted for connection with a source of electric current and a bar of magnetizable material slidable in the core of the solenoid, a stem extended through the end of the handle opposite the closure, and connected to the bar, means normally urging the stem and bar in a direction outward from the solenoid and said stem and bar adapted to be moved toward the solenoid against the force urging the stem and bar outward from the solenoid under the influence of the magnetic forces generated by the solenoid, means to limit the outward movement of said stem and bar, means to provide a liquid tight seal between the extended end of the stem and the handle, a tubular shank, a brush holder carried by the shank, a second stem slidable in the shank, means to connect the brush holder with the latter stem to transmit the longitudinal movement of said stem to movements of the brush holder laterally of the stem, means to urge the brush holder to a predetermined position and the connected stem in one direction,

- and means to releasably connect the shank to of the casing, said washer having a centrally depressed portion the wall of which inclines to the axis of the washer, the shank being adapted to be engaged in the portion of the sleeve of smaller diameter with the end abutting the inclined wall of the washer to exert an outward force onthe end of the shank, and a ring threaded onto the sleeve, said ring having a beveled portion to cooperate with a beveled end of the sleeve to clamp I the sleeve to the shank.

10. In a vibrating toothbrush, a chambered handle, a tubular shank connected at one end to and extending from an end or the, handle and arranged with a hood at the outer end with the opening of'the hood at the side of the shank and the end wall of the hood inclining ,toward the opening, a magnetic vibrator longitudinally reciprocatory in the handle chamber including a stem extending from the handle chamber into the shank, a second stem longitudinally slidable in the shank with the inner end abutting the vibrator stem and having an anti-friction bearing at the outer end on the inclining wall of the hood, a brush having grooves in and extending pivotally supported at the ends of the legs by the 20 side wall and at the rear end of the hood to extend longitudinally of and in spaced relation to the spring plate and adapted to engage the grooves in the sides of the brush back, and links connecting the U-shaped member at the con- 25 nection thereof with the spring plate to the end of the second stem.

WILLIAM F. S'I'ICHT. 

